Media Preference Database

Abstract

Example technologies involve media preferences corresponding to multiple user accounts. In an example, a server of a streaming audio service receives, from a first controller interface on a first mobile device, data representing a request to play back a first audio track on a playback device, the first controller interface associated with a first user account of the streaming audio service. In response, the server streams data representing the first audio track to the playback device for playback. While streaming, the server receives, from a second controller interface on a second mobile device, data representing a preference for the first audio track that the playback device is playing back, the second controller interface associated with a second user account of the streaming audio service. The server stores, in a preference database corresponding to the second user account, data representing the preference for the first audio track.

1 . A computing system comprising:
 at least one network communications interface;   at least one processor; and   at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to:
 maintain a preference data structure for user profiles of a streaming audio service; 
 receive, via the at least one network communications interface, first preference data comprising first preferences indicated by playback of first media items via a media playback application; 
 store the first preferences in the preference data structure in association with first weights corresponding to playback of the first media items via a media playback application, wherein the first weights represent respective first values on a gradient scale; 
 receive, via the at least one network communications interface, second preference data comprising second preferences indicated via selection, via a media playback application, of preference controls corresponding to second media items; 
 store the second preferences in the preference data structure in association with second weights corresponding to the selection of the preference controls corresponding to the second media items, wherein the second weights represent respective second values on the gradient scale; 
 determine media items from among preferred media items of a user profile represented in the preference data structure; and 
 cause, via the at least one network communications interface, a particular media playback application to display media recommendations comprising the selected media items. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computing system of  claim 1 , wherein the preference controls comprise positive preference controls selectable to indicate positive preferences for respective media items, and wherein the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to:
 convert positive preferences indicated via selection of the positive preference controls to the second weights   
     
     
         3 . The computing system of  claim 1 , wherein the preference controls comprise rating controls selectable to indicate ratings for respective media items, and wherein the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to:
 convert ratings indicated via selection of the rating controls to the second weights.   
     
     
         4 . The computing system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to:
 normalize the second weights on the gradient scale.   
     
     
         5 . The computing system of  claim 1 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to cause the particular media playback application to display the media recommendations comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to:
 display a recommended playlist comprising the selected media items   
     
     
         6 . The computing system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to:
 associate a plurality of preferred media items with the user profile based on similar preferences of two or more user accounts represented in the preference data structure.   
     
     
         7 . The computing system of  claim 1 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to receive the second preference data corresponding to second preferences comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to:
 receive, via the at least one network communications interface from a first instance of the media playback application associated with a first user account, a first portion of the second preference data, wherein first portion comprises certain second preferences indicated via selection, via the first instance of the media playback application, of preference controls corresponding to certain second media items; and   receive, via the at least one network communications interface from a second instance of the media playback application associated with a second user account, a second portion of the second preference data, wherein second portion comprises additional second preferences indicated via selection, via the second instance of the media playback application, of preference controls corresponding to additional second media items.   
     
     
         8 . The computing system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to:
 cause, via the at least one network communications interface, one or more playback devices to play back a playback queue comprising the media recommendations.   
     
     
         9 . A method to be performed by a computing device, the method comprising:
 maintaining a preference data structure for user profiles of a streaming audio service;   receiving, via at least one network communications interface, first preference data comprising first preferences indicated by playback of first media items via a media playback application;   storing the first preferences in the preference data structure in association with first weights corresponding to playback of the first media items via a media playback application, wherein the first weights represent respective first values on a gradient scale;   receiving, via the at least one network communications interface, second preference data comprising second preferences indicated via selection, via a media playback application, of preference controls corresponding to second media items;   storing the second preferences in the preference data structure in association with second weights corresponding to the selection of the preference controls corresponding to the second media items, wherein the second weights represent respective second values on the gradient scale;   determining media items from among preferred media items of a user profile represented in the preference data structure; and   causing, via the at least one network communications interface, a particular media playback application to display media recommendations comprising the selected media items.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the preference controls comprise positive preference controls selectable to indicate positive preferences for respective media items, and wherein the method further comprises:
 converting positive preferences indicated via selection of the positive preference controls to the second weights.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the preference controls comprise rating controls selectable to indicate ratings for respective media items, and wherein the method further comprises:
 converting ratings indicated via selection of the rating controls to the second weights.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 normalizing the second weights on the gradient scale.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein causing the particular media playback application to display the media recommendations comprises:
 displaying a recommended playlist comprising the selected media items.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 associating a plurality of preferred media items with the user profile based on similar preferences of two or more user accounts represented in the preference data structure.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein receiving the second preference data corresponding to second preferences comprises:
 receiving, via the at least one network communications interface from a first instance of the media playback application associated with a first user account, a first portion of the second preference data, wherein first portion comprises certain second preferences indicated via selection, via the first instance of the media playback application, of preference controls corresponding to certain second media items; and   receiving, via the at least one network communications interface from a second instance of the media playback application associated with a second user account, a second portion of the second preference data, wherein second portion comprises additional second preferences indicated via selection, via the second instance of the media playback application, of preference controls corresponding to additional second media items.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 causing, via the at least one network communications interface, one or more playback devices to play back a playback queue comprising the media recommendations.   
     
     
         17 . At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions that are executable by at least one processor such that a computing system is configured to:
 maintain a preference data structure for user profiles of a streaming audio service;   receive, via at least one network communications interface, first preference data comprising first preferences indicated by playback of first media items via a media playback application;   store the first preferences in the preference data structure in association with first weights corresponding to playback of the first media items via a media playback application, wherein the first weights represent respective first values on a gradient scale;   receive, via the at least one network communications interface, second preference data comprising second preferences indicated via selection, via a media playback application, of preference controls corresponding to second media items;   store the second preferences in the preference data structure in association with second weights corresponding to the selection of the preference controls corresponding to the second media items, wherein the second weights represent respective second values on the gradient scale;   determine media items from among preferred media items of a user profile represented in the preference data structure; and   cause, via the at least one network communications interface, a particular media playback application to display media recommendations comprising the selected media items.   
     
     
         18 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the preference controls comprise positive preference controls selectable to indicate positive preferences for respective media items, and wherein the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to:
 convert positive preferences indicated via selection of the positive preference controls to the second weights.   
     
     
         19 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the preference controls comprise rating controls selectable to indicate ratings for respective media items, and wherein the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to:
 convert ratings indicated via selection of the rating controls to the second weights. 
 
     
     
         20 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to cause the particular media playback application to display the media recommendations comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to:
 display a recommended playlist comprising the selected media items